A September Bride by Kathryn Springer

Author:Kathryn Springer
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2014-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

Annie spotted Vivienne at the bottom of the stairs, wearing a white chef’s apron and a smudge of flour on her cheek.

“You look flushed.” Vivienne clucked her tongue. “I suppose it’s warm up in the attic.”

Annie couldn’t look at Jesse.

You have no idea, Ms. Viv.

Had Jesse really been about to kiss her?

The thought made Annie’s toes curl all over again. She had assumed she was the only one who felt the tiny sparks that danced in the air between them. Until she’d seen them in his eyes.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” Vivienne turned a smile on Jesse, whose expression remained as unreadable as if he were wearing his sunglasses again.

“Sorry, Ms. Viv. There was a lot of—” Annie’s foot shot out and pressed down on Jesse’s shoe. “A lot of stuff up there, but we couldn’t find anything that looked like it might have belonged to Patrick Weston.”

“I was so sure . . . Oh well.” Vivienne didn’t look the least bit upset by the news. “You have time to stay for tea? I set up a table in the garden.” The woman didn’t wait for a response as she forged ahead, the three dogs pattering along behind her. “We won’t be blessed with too many beautiful afternoons like this. Have to take advantage of the moment while we can.”

“I’m sorry about this,” Jesse said in a tight whisper. “I forgot about her standing appointment with Earl Grey.”

Annie almost smiled. Almost.

They trooped through a three-seasons room stuffed with wicker furniture and followed Vivienne through a door that opened into the backyard.

“Help yourself.” Their hostess motioned to a tray on the wrought iron table. Tiny china cups circled a hand-painted teapot, and peanut butter cookies dusted with sugar were piled high on a matching plate.

Annie perched on the edge of a white wicker chair. “Everything looks delicious.”

“These are Jesse’s favorite.” Vivienne pushed the plate of cookies closer to Annie. “He used to eat half a dozen every time he came over for piano lessons.”

She passed Jesse a filled teacup and it all but disappeared when he wrapped his large hand around it.

“You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble,” Annie told her as Vivienne poured her a cup of tea.

“It’s no trouble,” the woman sputtered. “It’s a celebration!”

“What are we celebrating, Ms. Viv?” Jesse reached for a cookie.

“Your wedding, of course. I heard you two are getting married.”

Annie didn’t dare look at Jesse as she hurried to correct the mistake. “It’s not a real wedding, Ms. Viv. It’s a special event for the museum’s grand opening. Jesse and I are just pretending. Playing a part.”

Vivienne laughed. “I’m seventy-eight years old. I know the real thing when I see it! David and I were married for fifty years and we looked at each other the same way you two look at each other.”

Annie couldn’t look at Jesse now.

“We did everything together . . . My husband had this way of making everything an adventure,” Vivienne went on. “After David retired, he refused to sit in a recliner and watch the world pass by.

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